Days passed, and Jian found himself replaying moments with Hana in his mind. Her laughter, the way she encouraged him, the warmth of her hug—they lingered like the aftertaste of a sweet dessert. Yet, alongside these memories came a sense of uncertainty.
He wondered if he was reading too much into her actions. Did Hana see him the same way he was beginning to see her? Or was she simply being kind, as she was to everyone? These thoughts buzzed around his head, making it hard to focus on anything else.
---
One evening, Jian sat in his small room, the hum of the city drifting in through the cracked window. His sketchpad lay open on his desk, but his pencil hovered over the page, unsure of where to land.
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. The familiar comfort of drawing seemed out of reach tonight. His thoughts were too tangled, pulling him in different directions.
His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He picked it up to see a message from Hana.
Hana: Hey! Are you free tomorrow? I need a favor.
Jian stared at the screen, his heart skipping a beat. A favor? What could it be?
Jian: Sure. What's up?
Her reply came almost instantly.
Hana: I'll tell you tomorrow. Meet me at the studio at 10 AM?
Jian smiled, a small flicker of excitement lighting up his chest.
Jian: Okay. See you then.
---
The next morning, Jian arrived at the dance studio a few minutes early. The building was quiet, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the hallway. He found Hana in one of the practice rooms, stretching by the mirrored wall.
"Hey!" she greeted him, her face lighting up as she saw him.
"Hey," Jian replied, feeling a little awkward but happy to see her.
Hana gestured for him to come in. "Okay, so here's the deal. I'm choreographing a new routine for an upcoming showcase, but I need a second opinion. I thought you'd be perfect since you've got such a good eye for detail."
Jian blinked, caught off guard. "Me? But I don't know much about dance."
"That's exactly why I asked you," Hana said with a grin. "You'll see things differently. Plus, I trust you."
Her words made Jian's cheeks warm. "I'll do my best," he mumbled.
---
Hana walked him through the basics of the routine, explaining the story she wanted to tell through her movements. She started with a slow, graceful sequence, her body flowing like water.
Jian watched intently, noticing the way her movements mirrored the emotions she described. She moved with such ease, her body seemingly weightless.
When she finished the first part, she turned to him, slightly out of breath. "What do you think?"
Jian hesitated, unsure if his thoughts would be helpful. "It's... beautiful," he said. "But maybe... the part where you reach out—what if it was slower? It might feel more emotional that way."
Hana tilted her head, considering his suggestion. Then she tried it, slowing her movements.
Her eyes lit up. "You're right! That does feel better. See? I knew you'd be good at this."
Jian felt a small surge of pride. For once, he didn't feel out of place.
---
They spent the next couple of hours working together, Hana dancing while Jian offered suggestions. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting warm light into the room.
At one point, Hana sat down to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed from exertion. Jian handed her a bottle of water from his bag.
"Thanks," she said, taking a sip. "You're really good at this, you know."
Jian shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm just saying what I see."
"That's what makes it great," Hana said. "You notice things I don't. It's like... you see the world differently."
Jian looked down, unsure how to respond. No one had ever said something like that to him before.
---
As they wrapped up for the day, Hana leaned against the mirrored wall, her energy still bright despite the long practice.
"Thanks for helping me today," she said. "I couldn't have done this without you."
"You probably could," Jian said with a small smile. "But I'm glad I could help."
Hana laughed. "You're too modest. Seriously, though, you've got a real talent, Jian. Not just with art, but with understanding people. Don't sell yourself short."
Jian felt a warmth spread through him at her words.
---
On the walk home, Jian replayed the day in his mind. He couldn't help but feel like they'd grown closer, not just as friends but as people who truly understood each other.
But even as the memory of Hana's smile made his heart flutter, the familiar doubt crept back in.
"Don't overthink it," he muttered to himself.
Yet, overthinking was what he did best.
---
That night, Jian sat at his desk, his pencil moving across the page. He sketched Hana in the studio, her movements frozen in time.
As he shaded the drawing, he thought about what she'd said. You see the world differently.
Maybe she was right. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't a bad thing.
For now, though, he would keep those thoughts to himself, letting them bloom quietly in the corners of his heart.